In my thread, I used the concept you suggested for setting application limits because I thought that helping those users who are one step away from the coveted rank would have a much greater effect, because the final result of the application would be immediately visible.
That's because you are the merit source and it's easier for you to get those users to the rank they want in no time. Even though the OP is not a merit source, he only send merit when he has sMerit he got from other users in his post. Very different with you because in the end the rank of users who submit applications is not only in the hands of the OP but also at others who want to help including the merit source.